Mesothelioma is a debilitating disease. According to Bergman Legal, most of the patients afflicted by this malignancy have a completely changed way of living. While it takes years for the symptoms to appear, mesothelioma patients are believed to benefit from having a healthy diet to help prevent the cancer from affecting their lives completely. A study found that antioxidants found in vegetables can help prevent mesothelioma from developing.
So, if your doctor believes you may have a risk of developing mesothelioma, it would be good to start shifting to a healthier diet. This guest post explains how:
Pack Your Diet With Antioxidants
Include plenty of plant-based foods in your diet since they are packed with beneficial antioxidants that can help boost your immune system, protecting your body from everyday cellular damage.
Eat More Fruit and Vegetables
Unfortunately, most people do not meet the daily minimum of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables. When trying to eat more fruits, always go for fresh options such as a crisp apple rather than apple juice. For breakfast, aim to have fresh fruits, whole grains, and oatmeal. During lunch, a nourishing mixed salad. You can also add tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, spinach, and avocado to your whole grain bread for a healthy sandwich. Then for dessert, you can have fresh fruits, such as watermelon or strawberries. For snacks, it would be best to grab a banana, or have fresh carrots, cucumber, or celery and dip them in your favorite hummus. For dinner, you can have a baked potato, with steamed broccoli or stir-fried vegetables on the side.
Cut Down Your Intake of Processed and Red Meat
Eating processed meat like bacon, hotdogs, sausages, and salami may increase the risk of cancer, according to recent research. Studies have found 50 grams a day of these meats can increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer by at least 20%. It is best to have other sources of protein such as eggs, tofu, nuts and oily fish.
Include Healthy Fats in Your Diet
You can’t completely eliminate fats from your diet, so choose to have healthy fats instead since they can have anti-inflammatory benefits. Aim to consume nuts, seeds and avocados regularly. You should also aim to get a healthy dose of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as oily fish like mackerel and salmon. Try to limit the intake of saturated fat to only 10% of your caloric intake for the day. Avoid, at all costs, trans fats commonly found in fried foods such as french fries and hard taco shells.
Limit Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates
Eating refined carbohydrates can cause quick spikes in blood sugar levels. Increased sugar levels may reduce the immunity required to protect against the oxidative stress thought to support the presence of mesothelioma. It is better to choose unrefined carbohydrates such as buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice, oatmeal, or barley.
While taking in healthy food is essential, the way you prepare it is equally crucial. For example, cooking chicken in tons of oil is a less beneficial way of doing it. If you can, consume raw fruits and vegetables to get the most vitamins and minerals from them. While cooking it also perfectly fine, it would be better if you steam it until it becomes tender. Overcooking vegetables tend to reduce essential nutrients including vitamin C. If possible, you can also boil the veggies in a broth, so you’re sure to get all the vitamins.